Electrical hemostat



Jan. 17, 1939. s. T. TRICE ELECTRICAL HEMOSTAT amen boa Spa/76w TZv'c 6 Filed March 17, 1936 Patented Jan. 17, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFECE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to an improved electrical liemostat or cauter particularly adapted for use in stopping capillary hemorrhages or the bleeding of capillary surfaces.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide an instrument of the above kind having a substantially cylindrical heated tip portion which may be touched against or rolled across any bleeding capillary surface to stop the bleeding thereof, means being provided to uniformly heat the tip portion to a degree sufficient to only lightly sear or coagulate the surface tissue, and said tip portion being formed of non-conducting material of approximately Zero expansion coefficient so that it will not appreciably stick to and may therefore be easily withdrawn from the tissue being treated.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an instrument of the above kind which is extremely simple and durable in construction, economical to manufacture, eflicient in use, and easy to thoroughly sterilize and keep clean.

The nature and details of the present invention will be readily understood from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is an elevational View of an electrical hemostat embodying the present invention.

Figure 2 is a central longitudinal section thereof; and

Figure 3 is a transverse section on line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the present instrument consists of a tube made of porcelain or other non-conducting material of approximately zero expansion co-efficient, and providing an elongated cylindrical shank 5 of slender form and an integral elongated cylindrical handle 6 of larger size. The larger handle portion 6 is provided by externally thickening this end portion of the tube in a uniform manner, the tube having a cylindrical bore i of uniform diameter throughout which is closed at the outer or tip end of the shank 5 and open at the inner end of the handle 6.

Removably fitted in the tip portion of the shank 5 for uniformly heating said tip portion, is a cylindrical resistor consisting of a porcelain tube 9 having sufficient resistance wire helically wound thereon from end to end as indicated at 10, to produce the desired heat. The tip end 8 of the shank 5 may be provided with an axial inwardly projecting stud I l to be received within the outer end of the porcelain tube 9 of the resistor for centering the latter at the tip end of the instrument and within the tip portion of the shank 5,

in conjunction with the annular external flange i2 on. the inner end of said tube 9. This resistor may be readily inserted through the open inner end of the bore l, and it snugly fits within said bore so as to efiectively remain in the extreme tip portion of the shank 5 as shown in Figure 2 except when forcibly withdrawn therefrom for renewal or repair. Extending through the bore 1 of the instrument and connected to the respective terminals of the resistor are lead wires 13 of an attachment cord M which also extends through the central aperture 15 of a porcelain cap 16 removably threaded on the inner end of the handie 6. The attachment cord and its lead wire obviously furnish means for facilitating the supply of electric current to the resistor, and said lead wires may be knotted as at I! at the inner side of the cap l6 so as to prevent the lead Wires and the resistor from being pulled out of place should a pull be accidentally exerted on the attachment cord externally of the instrument, the knotted portion I! being too large to pass through the central aperture l5 of the cap 16. At the same time, it is apparent that the cap I6 may be readily removed so as to permit Withdrawal of the lead wires i3 and the resistor,

It is noted that the present instrument is primarily adapted for use to stop capillary hemorrhages or the bleeding of capillary surfaces, the resistor being such as to heat the tip portion 10 sufliciently to only lightly sear or coagulate the surface tissue to a degree slightly less serious than an ordinary first degree burn. Due to the cylindrical form of the tip portion it, it may be either touched against or rolled across the bleeding capillary surface, and due to the fact that such tip portion I is formed of porcelain or other non-conducting material of approximately zero expansion co-eflicient, the patient is relieved of any danger of shock and of distress from sticking of the tip portion to the tissue being treated. The tip portion, being formed of material or" approximately zero expansion co-eflicient, will not stick appreciably to tissue or may be easily withdrawn therefrom when the tip is heated and the tissue is being treated. The extreme tip end 3 and the adjacent cylindrical portion of the shank surrounding the resistor, will be uniformly heated due to the substantially uniform thickness of the wall of the shank at these points, thus providing for the use of the instrument by touching the same against the surface or rolling it across such surface as above noted. It will further be seen that the tip portion is prefectly smooth and devoid of crevices or depressions, thereby providing for ready thorough sterilizing or cleaning of the instrument by simply placing the same in an antiseptic solution.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that I have provided a construction for efiective- 1y carrying out the stated objects of the invention. While the preferred construction of the instrument is illustrated and described, it will be understood that changes may be made in the specific details such as fairly fall within the spirit of the invention as claimed.

What I claim as new is: 7

An electrical capillary hemostat of the character described, comprising a tube formed of non-conducting material of approximately Zero expansion co-efficient and providing a slender shank and a larger handle integral with said shank, said tube having a cylindrical bore of substantially uniform diameter throughout and closed at the outer tip end of the shank and open at the inner end of the handle, a cylindrical resistor removably fitted in the outer or tip portion of the shank and removable from the tube through the inner end of the handle, said resistor being of a heating capacity for substantially uniformly heating said tip portion to a degree for only lightly searing or coagulating surface tissue, lead wires extending through the bore of the tube and connected to the resistor, and an apertured cap removably secured on the inner end of the handle and having the lead Wires extending through the aperture thereof, and means cooperating with said cap to prevent withdrawal of the lead wires and resistor from said tube While the cap is applied to the handle.

SPENCER TALLEY TRICE. 

